[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 169 (Thursday, November 20, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15291-S15292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself and Mr. Campbell):
  S. 1905. A bill to provide habitable living quarters for teachers, 
administrators, other school staff, and their households in the rural 
areas of Alaska located in or near Alaska Native Villages; to the 
Committee on Indian Affairs.
  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise to introduce a bill that will 
have a profound effect on the retention of teachers, administrators, 
and other school staff in remote and rural areas of Alaska. I am 
pleased to have Mr. Campbell join me in introducing this bill.
  In rural areas of Alaska, school districts face the challenge of 
recruiting and retaining teachers, administrators and other school 
staff due to the lack of housing. In the Lower Kuskokwim School 
District in western Alaska, they hire one teacher for every six who 
decide not to accept job offers. Half of the applicants not accepting a 
teaching position in that district indicated that their decision as 
related to the lack of housing.
  Earlier this year, I traveled through rural Alaska with Education 
Secretary Rod Paige. I wanted him to see the challenges of educating 
children in such a remote and rural environment. At the village school 
in Savoonga, the principal slept in a broom closet in the school due to 
the lack of housing in that village. The special education teacher 
slept in her classroom, bringing a mattress out each evening to sleep 
on the floor. The other teachers shared housing in a single home. 
Needless to say, there is not enough room for the teachers' spouses. 
Unfortunately, Savoonga is not an isolated example of the teacher 
housing situation in rural Alaska.
  Rural Alaskan school districts experience a high rate of teacher 
turnover due to the lack of housing. Turnover is as high as 30 percent 
each year in some rural areas with housing issues being a major factor. 
How can we expect our children to receive a quality education when the 
good teachers don't stay? How can we meet the mandates of No Child Left 
Behind in such an educational environment? Clearly, the lack of teacher 
housing in rural Alaska is an issue that must be addressed in order to 
ensure that children in rural Alaska receive the same level of 
education as their peers in more urban settings.
  My bill authorizes the Department of Housing and Urban Development to 
provide teacher housing funds to the Alaska Housing Finance 
Corporation, which is a State agency. In turn, the corporation is 
authorized to provide grant and loan funds to rural school districts in 
Alaska for teacher housing projects.

  This legislation will allow school districts in rural Alaska to 
address the housing shortage in the following ways: construct housing 
units; purchase housing units; lease housing units; rehabilitate 
housing units; purchase or lease property on which housing units will 
be constructed, purchased or rehabilitated; repay loans secured for 
teacher housing projects; provide funding to fill any gaps not 
previously funded by loans or other forms of financing; and conduct any 
other activities normally related to the construction, purchase, or 
rehabilitation of teacher housing projects.
  Eligible school districts that accept funds under this legislation 
will be required to provide the housing to teachers, administrators, 
other school staff, and members of their households.
  It is imperative that we address this important issue immediately and 
allow the flexibility for the disbursement of funds to be handled at 
the local level. The quality of education of our rural students is at 
stake.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1905

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Teacher Housing Act of 
     2003''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--

[[Page S15292]]

       (1) housing for teachers, administrators, other school 
     staff, and their households in remote and rural areas of 
     Alaska is often substandard, if available at all;
       (2) as a consequence, teachers, administrators, other 
     school staff, and their households are often forced to find 
     alternate shelter, sometimes even in school buildings; and
       (3) rural school districts in Alaska are facing increased 
     challenges, including meeting the mandates of the No Child 
     Left Behind Act, in recruiting employees due to the lack of 
     affordable, quality housing.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to provide 
     habitable living quarters for teachers, administrators, other 
     school staff, and their households in rural areas of Alaska 
     located in or near Alaska Native Villages.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act, the following definitions shall apply:
       (1) Alaska housing finance corporation.--The term ``Alaska 
     Housing Finance Corporation'' means the State housing 
     authority for the State of Alaska, created under the laws of 
     the State of Alaska, or any successor thereto.
       (2) Elementary school.--The term ``elementary school'' has 
     the meaning given that term in section 9101 of the Elementary 
     and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
       (3) Eligible school district.--The term ``eligible school 
     district'' means a public school district (as defined under 
     the laws of the State of Alaska) located in the State of 
     Alaska that operates one or more schools in a qualified 
     community.
       (4) Native village.--The term ``Native Village''--
       (A) has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the 
     Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C 1602); and
       (B) includes the Metlakatla Indian Community of the Annette 
     Islands Reserve.
       (5) Other school staff.--The term ``other school staff'' 
     means pupil services personnel, librarians, career guidance 
     and counseling personnel, education aides, and other 
     instructional and administrative school personnel.
       (6) Qualified community.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``qualified community'' means a 
     home rule or general law city incorporated under the laws of 
     the State of Alaska, or an unincorporated community (as 
     defined under the laws of the State of Alaska) in the State 
     of Alaska situated outside the limits of such a city, with 
     respect to which, the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation has 
     determined that the city or unincorporated community--
       (i) has a population of 6,500 or fewer individuals;
       (ii) is situated within or near a Native Village, as 
     determined by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation; and
       (iii) is not connected by road or railroad to the 
     municipality of Anchorage, Alaska.
       (B) Connected by road.--In this paragraph, the term 
     ``connected by road'' does not include a connection by way of 
     the Alaska Marine Highway System, created under the laws of 
     the State of Alaska, or a connection that requires travel by 
     road through Canada.
       (7) Secondary school.--The term ``secondary school'' has 
     the meaning given that term in section 9101 of the Elementary 
     and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
       (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Housing and Urban Development.
       (9) Teacher.--The term ``teacher'' means an individual who 
     is employed as a teacher in a public elementary or secondary 
     school, and meets the teaching certification or licensure 
     requirements of the State of Alaska.
       (10) Tribally designated housing entity.--The term 
     ``tribally designated housing entity'' has the meaning given 
     that term in section 4 of the Native American Housing 
     Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 
     4103).
       (11) Village corporation.--The term ``Village Corporation'' 
     has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the Alaska 
     Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602), and includes 
     urban and group corporations, as defined in that section.

     SEC. 4. RURAL TEACHER HOUSING PROGRAM.

       (a) Grants and Loans Authorized.--The Secretary shall 
     provide funds to the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation in 
     accordance with the regulations promulgated under section 5, 
     to be used as provided under subsection (b).
       (b) Use of Funds.--
       (1) In general.--Funds received pursuant to subsection (a) 
     shall be used by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation to 
     make grants or loans to eligible school districts, to be used 
     as provided in paragraph (2).
       (2) Use of funds by eligible school districts.--Grants or 
     loans received by an eligible school district pursuant to 
     paragraph (1) shall be used for--
       (A) the construction of new housing units within a 
     qualified community;
       (B) the purchase and rehabilitation of existing structures 
     to be used as housing units within a qualified community;
       (C) the rehabilitation of housing units within a qualified 
     community;
       (D) the leasing of housing units within a qualified 
     community;
       (E) purchasing or leasing real property on which housing 
     units will be constructed, purchased, or rehabilitated within 
     a qualified community;
       (F) the repayment of a loan used for the purposes of 
     constructing, purchasing, or rehabilitating housing units, or 
     for purchasing real property on which housing units will be 
     constructed, purchased, or rehabilitated, within a qualified 
     community, or any activity under subparagraph (G);
       (G) any other activities normally associated with the 
     construction, purchase, or rehabilitation of housing units 
     within a qualified community, including--
       (i) connecting housing units to various utilities;
       (ii) preparation of construction sites;
       (iii) transporting all equipment and materials necessary 
     for the construction or rehabilitation of housing units to 
     and from the site on which such housing units exist or will 
     be constructed; and
       (iv) environmental assessment and remediation of 
     construction sites or sites where housing units exist; and
       (H) the funding of any remaining costs for the 
     construction, purchase, or rehabilitation of housing units 
     within a qualified community, the purchase of real property 
     within a qualified community, or any activity listed under 
     subparagraph (G) that is not financed by loans or other 
     sources of funding.
       (c) Ownership of Housing and Land.--
       (1) In general.--All housing units constructed, purchased, 
     or rehabilitated, or real property purchased, with grant or 
     loan funds provided under this Act, or with respect to which 
     funds under this Act have been expended, shall be owned by 
     the relevant eligible school district, municipality (as 
     defined under the laws of the State of Alaska), Village 
     Corporation, the Metlakatla Indian Community of the Annette 
     Islands Reserve, or a tribally designated housing entity. 
     Ownership of housing units and real property may be 
     transferred between such entities.
       (d) Occupancy of Housing Units.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided under paragraphs (2) 
     and (3), each housing unit constructed, purchased, 
     rehabilitated, or leased with grant or loan funds under this 
     Act, or with respect to which funds awarded under this Act 
     have been expended, shall be provided to teachers, 
     administrators, other school staff, and members of their 
     households.
       (2) Non-session months.--A housing unit constructed, 
     purchased, rehabilitated, or leased with grant or loan funds 
     under this Act, or with respect to which funds awarded under 
     this Act have been expended, may be occupied by individuals 
     other than teachers, administrators, other school staff, or 
     members of their household, only during those times in which 
     school is not in session.
       (3) Temporary occupants.--A vacant housing unit 
     constructed, purchased, rehabilitated, or leased with grant 
     or loan funds under this Act, or with respect to which funds 
     awarded under this Act have been expended, may be occupied by 
     a contractor or guest of an eligible school district for a 
     maximum period of time, to be determined by the Alaska 
     Housing Finance Corporation.
       (e) Compliance With Law.--Each eligible school district 
     receiving a grant or loan under this Act shall ensure that 
     all housing units constructed, purchased, rehabilitated, or 
     leased with such grant or loan funds, or with respect to 
     which funds awarded under this Act have been expended, meet 
     all applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.
       (f) Program Policies.--
       (1) In general.--The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, 
     after consulting with eligible school districts, shall 
     establish policies governing the administration of grant and 
     loan funds made available under this Act. Such policies shall 
     include a methodology for ensuring that funds provided under 
     this Act are made available on an equitable basis to eligible 
     school districts.
       (2) Revisions.--Not less than every 3 years, the Alaska 
     Housing Finance Corporation shall, in consultation with 
     eligible school districts, consider revisions to the policies 
     established under paragraph (1).

     SEC. 5. REGULATIONS.

       Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary shall promulgate such regulations as are 
     necessary to carry out this Act.

     SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     the Department of Housing and Urban Development such sums as 
     are necessary for each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2014, 
     to carry out this Act.
       (b) Limitation.--The Secretary and the Alaska Housing 
     Finance Corporation shall each use not more than 5 percent of 
     the funds appropriated in any fiscal year to carry out this 
     Act for administrative expenses associated with the 
     implementation of this Act.
                                 ______